While he was on course to remain on the Algerian bench after his African champion title in 2019, Djamel Belmadi was dismissed from his duties as coach of the Fennecs after an early elimination at Afcon 2023. However, the FAF already seems to find its successor and an agreement has even been announced.
Djamel Belmadi left his mark on the history of Algerian football. Upon his arrival at the head of the Fennecs, the local technician led the team to the final coronation at Afcon 2019 in Egypt against Sadio Mané’s Senegal. A single goal from Bagdad Bounedjah at the start of the match was enough for the Fennecs to climb to the top of the podium.
Thanks to his speech, his determination, his charisma and his work, Djamel Belmadi remained on the same logic with an impressive series of matches without defeat, but unfortunately, he came out in the group stage of the last two African Cups of Nations. 2021 in Cameroon and 2023 in Ivory Coast without forgetting the elimination at home for the Qatar 2022 World Cup against Rigobert Song’s Cameroon.
After these repetitive failures, Djamel Belmadi discussed his future with the FAF (Algerian Football Federation). Both parties agreed to an amicable termination of contract. And since then, the body has been putting pressure on itself to quickly find a successor at the head of the Fennecs. The Hervé Renard trail was explored without success. The French technician taking up a position with the French women’s team. Then, it was the name of Zinédine Zidane which came back insistently. The former Real Madrid coach said he was flattered by the attention, but also declined Algeria’s offer.
The FAF has reportedly resolved financial disputes with Djamel Belmadi, who was on his way out after the team’s disappointing performance at Afcon 2023. The favorable financial deal would have paved the way for a smooth transition to a new coach.
Algeria, agreement announced with Vahid Halilhodzic
The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) appears to have almost reached an agreement for the replacement of Djamel Belmadi, with the potential return of Vahid Halilhodzic at the helm of the national team. After financial disputes resolved with Belmadi, the FAF turned to Halilhodzic, former Fennecs coach from 2011 to 2014.
Although Hervé Renard remains the priority of the FAF, information from Gazette du Fennec shows that the file with Halilhodzic is considered almost done. The former coach of the Fennecs between 2011 and 2014, Halilhodzic, represents a more affordable option financially and could be quickly operational, especially since after Afcon 2023, CAF continues with the rest of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
With World Cup qualifying matches scheduled for March and June, the FAF appears to favor a quick and affordable solution. Halilhodzic, available immediately, could take charge of the Algerian national team for these crucial deadlines, offering a viable alternative if Renard declines the offer.
Halilhodzic, not a bad track but…
Valid Halilhodzic has already demonstrated on several occasions his competence with certain prowess on the bench of African teams. Although he managed to qualify Algeria for the 2014 World Cup during his first visit, his stay in the country was sometimes tumultuous with some disagreements with certain players.
Halilhodzic is known as a strict coach who embodies authority. He takes every detail into account and bangs his fist on the table to ensure order. With players with strong character, it doesn’t always work and obviously, it’s not really what the Fennecs need at the moment. With Djamel Belmadi, it is a similar type of approach where he even had an altercation with Saïd Benrahma, finally excluded for Afcon 2023. At the beginning everything seemed to work well, but the rest was complicated for Belmadi where his ideas did not really spend more by being strict with stars like Riyad Mahrez, Islam Slimani, Saïd Benrahma, Andy Delort and co.
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